OCLC acquires digital content provider to meet the needs of public library communities
DUBLIN, Ohio, April 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — OCLC has acquired cloudLibrary, a platform that offers access to a wide variety of digital content through libraries. The acquisition will help OCLC support public libraries in their efforts to successfully manage accelerated shifts to digital collections.
Nearly 500 libraries in 20 countries rely on cloudLibrary to provide access to a rich collection of digital content including millions of ebooks and audio books as well as tens of thousands of magazines, digital newspapers, digital comics, and streaming media services in more than 50 languages. Libraries make these collections available to their communities through cloudLibrary’s top-rated mobile app while a web portal makes it easy for library staff to manage their subscriptions.
“We welcome the cloudLibrary team to the OCLC family. OCLC is in a unique position to provide cloudLibrary with a world-class technology infrastructure and a network of public libraries that serve more than 50 million people worldwide. This acquisition expands our service to public libraries and reinforces our commitment to increasing access to information,” said Skip Prichard, OCLC President and CEO.
Libraries subscribe to their own collection of materials through the cloudLibrary platform. They can also choose to become part of a cloudLink group within a state or consortium.
“cloudLibrary is a great fit for public libraries as they continue to create strategies and manage budgets to support ever increasing demand for digital content,” said Chip Nilges, OCLC Vice President, Business Development, Membership and Research.
OCLC acquired the assets of the Digital Solutions Group of Bibliotheca, based in St. Paul, Minnesota. This group is responsible for the cloudLibrary platform. Staff members of the Digital Solutions Group are now part of the OCLC staff.
“OCLC is a wonderful organization, and we are delighted that cloudLibrary will be supporting the incredible work they do for libraries,” says Matthew Bellamy, President, Bibliotheca. “We look forward to working closely with OCLC to ensure a smooth transition and maintain cloudLibrary’s deep integrations with Bibliotheca products.”
This acquisition is effective today.
About OCLC
OCLC is a nonprofit global library organization that provides shared technology services, original research, and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research, and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC’s WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world’s collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff, and partners make breakthroughs possible.
OCLC, WorldCat and WorldShare are trademarks and/or service marks of OCLC, Inc. Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners.
For more information: Contact Bob Murphy at [email protected] or +1-614-761-5136
SOURCE OCLC
